Why do all the naughty kids get awards in assembly?

[daffodilsinspring]

" Do I need to be naughty to get a certificate?"
Asked by friends DD (aged 5)

Anyone else had that experience?

what are the certificates for? are you saying that if a child does well in something, they should not be rewarded for that achievement, because they might have fallen short in another aspect of their behaviour?

nope...DS's school is fairly even handed when it comes to headteachers awards, and yes, naughty kids often get one for a vast improvement in their bahaviour. tis a good thing ime.

My DS is very middle of the class in terms of his abilities and behaviour though, so is often overlooked.

I wouldn't say that's the case in our school

I wouldn't say that's the case in our school

because the naughty kids get more rewards when they are good and then they stand out more because they have been given xx more awards than those who are good all the time

very wrong but lots of schools do it

so, like the OP children then believe that the only way they will win certificates, prizes etc is to be naughty

If a child finds behaving well difficult for whatever reason then it's important that they are rewarded when they manage it.

If a child finds behaving well easy then why should they get rewarded for it?

As I hope all sensible parents explain to their children.

but surely you then explain to the 5yo children who beleive that why they will also get rewards if they are good, and what sanctions will occur when naughty? if a 5yo beleives something that is not right, is it not the role of parent to correct them and then move on? with the right guidance they will learn that their good behaviour will be rewarded. For example my 4yo had a sad face at school for misbehaving. We also said we were a little bit sad. It made her so upset she never did it again. She then got a 'superstar' for helping to tidy up very well. We praised her to the hilt and she shone with pride. So, she will learn that good behaviour is better than bad behaviour. As will other 'naughty' children.

Also, not entirely sure a 5yo can be a naughty child? maybe aspects of their behaviour is naughty, but surely labelling them this was is a bit mean at such a young age?!

seeker - you said that better than me!

Okay I'll bite.

My son is autistic with learning difficulties, ADHD and Dyspraxia. He has an acute over sensitive sense of hearing and a propensity to fidget fidget fidget even with his one to opne support. He is not "naughty" even by the standard definition according to the school but he can be a distraction to other children because the sounds in the huge enchoey assembly hall are too much for him. He is 8.

When he gets all the way through assembly he is rewarded and I don't give a shit if that pisses people off. When he manages this he feels good about himself rather than seeing himself as a "bad boy" (which according to the teachers he is NOT but that's how he sees himself because he knows he is different).

So yes - if you want acceptable behaviour from children you have to encourage it by any means necessary. My son responds well to his little rewards and is making progress because of them. Often the reward is not a certificate but rather extra time on learning activities he enjoys. Sometimes when the day has gone extra well he is "Star of the Day" and this week was "Star of the Week" for good work and efforts to follow the normal school day.

And the answer to your friend's DD is "Of course not - to get the certificate you have to be good". The children are not getting their certificate for being badly behaved after all but for complying with whatever the school wants them to do. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence should be able to work that out for themselves.

Oh yes , recognise that one.
I used to say they got them as they were not as naughty as usual but still not as well behaved as you!
Yes by all means 'reward' the good behaviour but what about those who are well behaved all the time.....nothing for them

The problem is that some schools don't ever give certificates to the children who behave well - not saying they should be given rewards just for being good if that comes easy to them, but I think every child can get praised for effort during the year, whether academic or behaviour.

Our school is much better at doing that now but didn't used to be. Dd got to around Y4 without a single certificate!

The comment made by the child in the OP did make me smile - reminded me of when ds2 came home from
playgroup & said "You get a sticker if you've been naughty & then you are good"!

Not as DS1's school. He's very well behaved and often gets the head teachers awards. They do behaviour awards as well as literacy and numeracy.

Very well put Seeker. Having volunteered in primary for some time now its clear that a lot of what people label as naughty behaviour is often about underying issues, SN etc and it's right that their achievements are acknowledged.

This is sadly the case at ds's school. It's either the naughty ones or the very clever ones. TBH its expected, but when its the same children over and over, it gets a little irritating.....

It's important to recognise the achievements of any child, isn't it? It's not just the children who are "well behaved" that deserve praise and acknowledgement. As others have said some children with SN find concentrating very difficult - shouldn't they be rewarded when they work hard and achieve something they find difficult?

At DS's school they get rewards for all kinds of things - politeness, good work, kindness, helpfulness, good concentration etc. Every child gets their achievements recognised and my DS doesn't have any problems understanding that.

I think it's pretty mean spirited post tbh.

That will be my son then OP...

He still needs to be recognised for his efforts thank you very much.

I feel like starting a couple of AIBU threads.

AIBU to be sceptical when people say it's 'only the naughty children' who get awards in assembly, and to think that this widely held belief is the result of observation bias?"

And "AIBU to think that two widely held beliefs "only naughty children get rewards' and "it's always the same "golden children (usually the children of governors and PTA activists) who get all the good stuff going" are mutually incompatible and are probably both erroneous?"

i agree whoelheartedly with not knowing what issues might underly socalled bad behaviour.

There will always be sanctions for bad behaviour. These are just not publically displayed, and neither should they be as this will seek to humiliate and undermine confidence. However, positive behaviour must always be promoted publically as children respond well to praise. So if a child struggles they will respond well to public praise.

If you feel your child is not being recognised for positive achievements, this is likely to be a school issue not a process issue and I would suggest you discuss this with your HT urgently.

And talk with your child about what things will get a reward/smiley face/superstar etc and encourage that yourself.

My 4 yr old has been up in assembly 4 times in 1.5 terms. I think this is a lot. He has got certificates for knowing all phonic sounds and extra writing he wanted to do at home and being good at lunch and swimming 5m.

He's a lively chap and I've had to go into school twice to discuss his 'superhero' behaviour at lunch which has resulted in tears! He's often on the 'time out chair'.

I must say it has crossed my mind that he's getting these certificates because he's very much 'in the face' of the teachers! And they are encouraging him to stay on the straight and narrow? I have another parent's meeting next month so will voice concerns then.

I agree it would be nice if the middle of the road kids were awarded as well - but it's a sad fact that being the middle of the road means you are less likely to be noticed :(

My kids have both had a certificate in assembly twice this half term, but this might mean they don't get one next half term. I know their school follows the same approach as mine. I have a checklist so that over the course of the term everyone gets at least one certificate in assembly and to check that some children aren't getting more than others. You can reach an end of term and think "whoops X hasn't had a certificate yet", but there's always something positive you can give one for. Ours can be for an individual piece of work, progress, behaviour, manners at lunch, helping others, etc.
Other achievements such as swimming, getting 10 merits are celebrated in class assemblies.

I sort of see where you're coming from op but here's my experience of it.

I have 2ds's in the same school year.

ds1 has emotional, behavioral and social difficulties. He is very challenging but responds well to praise. At primary school he received rewards for what would seem very basic things and he received these as often as warranted this. He responds well to the rewards and praise. Others who received regular awards were often the high achievers.

ds2 was always average. He rarely received extra praise in the form of certificates etc, once a term probably, as was standard for each child to receive something at least once a term.

I always explained that his brother found it harder to do certain things so was rewarded more frequently for those things, he knew that because he was always reasnoably behaved and did his work he would have to push that little bot harder for recognition. He received regular praise in general from us and teachers whereas ds1 was regularly in trouble.

Fast forward to today.

ds1 is in a special school after struggling for many years. He will hopefully leave school with some basic qualifications and I hope he may be able to fit into society one day. He still receives lots of certificates and rewards for very basic things such as sitting through one 30 minute lesson. He is so proud of these achievements and rightly so, they are often the one or two positive things he can take from a day at school.

ds2 is in top sets throughout the board. He is expected A* - B's in his GCSE's and is a well respected member of school with both teachers and peers. A few years ago he was expected to be a B,C,D student but he has gone the extra mile in the last 18 months and pushed himself harder. This has been noticed by school and he has received the encouragement from staff recognising this. He is a very well-rounded young man and an absolute pleasure to be around.

I am immensely proud of them both as they have both come a long way individually.

Yes, primary school children are young and may not see the bigger picture but I do believe all experiences help to build us however young. As long as there is praise for all the children at some point.

It did break my heart to see ds2 without a certificate again on a Friday afternoon, I am only human! But I turned this into reassurance and encouragement and it helped him to understand his brother wasn't just naughty and annoying!

Oh and I was chair of PTA for many years but didn't see a change in treatment of ds's

Seriously? You check that "some children aren't getting more than others"? What is that supposed to achieve?

I understand that it's best practice that every child is recognised for something - but if a child does something amazing, surely it deserves recognition and not ignored because they've already reached their quota of certificates???

I would also add that my DS's school DOES recognise the "good" children too. They have a "Star of the Day" and "Star of the Week" certificate for each class. The children are also graded every half term out of 5 for behaviour - at the end of the year these scores are added up and rewards given ranging from a certificate for the lowest achievers (so they still get something) through to vouchers and a trip out for the highest achievers (the best behaved children).

So in my son's school the best behaved children definitely DO get a reward for their excellent behaviour.

My son? Despite the fact that he struggles with ADHD, ASD etc is on course for the school trip, something I point out to him when he thinks his behaviour is bad.

Awards at primary level are a crock of shit.

Don't over think it. Your DD won't be permanently damaged by not getting a scrappy little certificate praising her for sitting nicely or some such crap.

There is a MASSIVE difference between pure naughty type kids & SN. There was a wee girly at dd's school (year below) who was frequently rewarded for good behaviour, ie not biting anyone that week or not throwing things round the room. She did in the end get statemented and moved to a more appropriate school where she is flourishing. (I am friends with her mum)
The school naughty boy (very very bright, absentish dad, mum with 5 kids 3 different dads - which in itself wasn't an issue but every time she got a new fella she's sod off and leave the kids with gran for a while). If he had a strop in class he'd get sent to the deputy heads room where he would play her keyboard, surf the net etc. Very manipulative young man who did what he wanted. DD did say the same in about yr2. He got aother book award mummy, shall i be naughty too?

I don't know what the answer is but it does happen across a lot of schools.